Positive and accurate patient identification is absolutely critical in healthcare. A single mistake can lead to a dangerous mix-up of medications, a treatment error, or even death. Sadly, recent statistics show that we have a long way to go in avoiding mistakes and ensuring patient safety through positive identification.

  • 3 million people are still injured annually due to medication errors
  • 13% of surgical mistakes are directly related to patient ID errors
  • 64% of clinicians say a patient is misidentified “very frequently” or “all the time” in a typical medical facility
  • 63% of healthcare organizations say incorrect identification at registration is the prime cause

Thankfully, we don’t have to settle for these startling statistics. Technology now makes it much easier to ensure flawless patient identification, and one of the latest innovations is Zebra’s new ZD510-HC healthcare wristband printer paired with Z-Band healthcare wristbands.

Zebra’s ZD510-HC printer is designed specifically to provide the quickest and most effective way to identify patients accurately, from registration throughout the entire continuum of care. It’s validated for use with AllScripts, CareFusion, Cerner, CPSI, Epic, McKesson and all leading admission, discharge and transfer systems.

The ZD510-HC printer integrates with these systems to print barcoded identifying wristbands with exceptional quality, ensuring optimum image durability and first-time scanning, even for narrow barcodes. It also includes a disinfectant-ready and UV-resistant housing to handle regular sanitizing with harsh chemicals as well as exposure to UV light.

The printer is also the easiest wristband printer to use on the market, with fast-loading Zebra Z-Brand wristband cartridges. You can just pop them in and start printing.

Zebra’s Z-Band wristbands come in a wide variety of options, with antimicrobial coatings and hand-sanitizer resistance, so you can prevent the spread of germs while ensuring accurate patient identification and better patient safety.

Z-Bands deliver two to six times the durability of other products, and they’re available in a wide variety of sizes, from infants to adults. Adhesive and clip closures are also available for extra safety, and there are even additional options for sensitive skin.

Importantly, Z-Bands are also MR-Safe, so they don’t present additional patient hazards during MRI procedures.

Each wristband cartridge also contains a smartchip for automatic calibration. The ZD510-HC uses the smartchip to instantly identify the wristband size and automatically configure print darkness and speed settings to ensure optimal quality and maximize wristband durability.

Connectivity is also reliable and easy with Ethernet, USB, USB Host and Bluetooth LE as standard options. You can also choose an optional 802.11ac wireless connection and Bluetooth 4.1 with concurrent wired and wireless communications.

The device is powerfully secure and includes the latest wireless security protocols plus advanced security and management features such as Zebra’s PrintSecure, which allows you to configure your printer to use secure connections, block unwanted access, and protect your data and infrastructure.

The ZD510-HC also simplifies HIPAA compliance with direct thermal printing, so there are no printer ribbons to secure, incinerate or shred.

If easy yet accurate patient identification and improved patient safety are priorities in your healthcare facility, we strongly recommend Zebra’s ZD510-HC wristband printer and Z-Band wristbands. Our technology experts at SK&T have been recommending and deploying Zebra patient identification systems in healthcare facilities for years, and the ZD510-HC is the most convenient, advanced and effective solution we’ve seen to date.

To learn more about the ZD510-HC and Zebra’s patient identification solutions, contact an SK&T technology specialist now for a quick discovery call.

If you use enterprise mobile and printing technologies, and especially Zebra products, you may already be familiar with the GO Zebra Trade-in Program. But there are changes to the program this year, and it’s worth a careful look, particularly if you’re planning to upgrade your legacy devices or migrate from Windows to Android in the coming months.

The GO Zebra program offers significant rebate savings when you trade in your existing mobile devices or printers and upgrade to the latest next-generation technologies.

Rebates start at $15 to $25 for relatively inexpensive devices but reach as much as $650 per device, depending on the hardware you trade in. You can even get these savings by trading in qualifying non-Zebra devices.

This year, in addition to adding some of the newest Zebra technologies to the program, Zebra has expanded trade-ins to include barcode scanners. Savings are now available on the following products:

  • Handheld mobile computers
  • Vehicle-mounted mobile computers
  • Rugged enterprise tablets
  • Smartphone-style touch computers
  • Barcode scanners
  • Industrial printers
  • Mobile printers
  • Card printers
  • Select charging stations
  • Mobile printer batteries

The expansion of GO Zebra is great news for companies that need to upgrade their aging, underperforming devices and take advantage of the latest technological breakthroughs—without paying full price.

It’s also timely for businesses that are facing the end of support for all remaining Windows Embedded Handheld operating systems. This end of support is wreaking havoc on many organizations, leaving them with the prospect of running an unsupported operating system with no security patches and potentially major security risks.

Fortunately, the mobile device industry has responded by making Android the new enterprise mobile OS of choice. It’s now available on over 90% of all enterprise-grade devices, and it offers a more intuitive and user-friendly interface, plus touch mobile computing that makes apps and workflows as simple as tapping on a screen or swiping to enter data.

With new Android devices such as Zebra’s MC9300 mobile computer, you can even combine Android’s touch simplicity with a traditional keypad and an ultra-rugged handheld device that provides advanced barcode scanning as well.

Alternatively, you can choose an Android smartphone-style touch computer, a rugged enterprise tablet, or even a revolutionary device such as Zebra’s TC8300 touch mobile computer. The TC8300 combines touch computing and tilt-free barcode scanning in a warehouse data capture and productivity device that boosts worker productivity by 14% and enables 40% faster data entry with 60% fewer errors.

Security has also been simplified thanks to Zebra’s Mobility Extensions (Mx), which is available on all its 20+ Android devices. These extensions turn Android into a powerfully secure enterprise OS that gives companies complete control over every device, app, connection, and user access. Android’s over-the-air updates also make it easy to install the latest security patches to keep devices protected, and Zebra offers 10 years of guaranteed OS support and security updates with its LifeGuard™ for Android™ program.

In addition to usability and security benefits, Android also makes migrating to a new OS much easier. Its open architecture, global developer community, and sample code allow enterprise Android mobile apps to be developed much faster and more efficiently, which lowers the total time and cost of a migration.

Thanks to the GO Zebra Trade-in Program, all of these benefits are available at significant savings. Contact SK&T now to help you determine if this program is right for you, whether your current devices qualify, and how much you can potentially save.

At SK&T, we have over 20 years of experience with clients across almost every vertical. Over the past few decades, we’ve refined and optimized our approach to helping clients improve supply chain operations. The result is a unique total solution plan that we now use with clients in any industry. In this post, we’ll outline our approach and how it benefits clients and their end customers.

Our Unique Approach

First, we take a deep-dive into your operations. We will identify what supplies and media you need to keep and what materials you need to invest in. Once we’ve determined what your needs are, we develop a comprehensive, total solution that identifies, tracks, and manages your assets and transactions.

As a result of our unique approach, our clients see reduced costs, higher return on initial investment, and improved efficiency.

Identifying Your Needs

Because our client base is so diverse, we have expertise in a variety of verticals. Using our in-depth knowledge of operations and best practices in manufacturing, healthcare, education, government, retail, and more industries inform the recommendations we will make for your business’s unique operations.

We’ll also take into account the future of devices while determining your needs. Our GO Zebra trade-in program allows us to get you back up to $650 per device that you swap for a Zebra product. This incentive alone has saved our clients hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years.

Most of our recommendations will revolve around areas for improvement and innovation, smarter ways to track and manage assets and supplies, and industry-specific data on how your competitors are utilizing their supply chains for maximum efficiency. Additionally, these recommendations often include specific devices to look into for your specific needs, like the Zebra ZT610 Industrial Printer for your warehouse, Zebra’s DS4308-HC barcode scanner for clinics and hospitals, and the Zebra RFD2000 UHF RFID for retailers.

Developing a Total Solution for You

We are a leading provider of receipt paper, labels, tags, and thermal transfer ribbons. We also know about the best of the best in scanners, mobile printers, RFID tags and readers, and much more.

We’ve provided these supplies and devices in collaboration with Zebra Technologies, the industry leader in scanning and data capture devices. Whether your need is basic or incredibly complex and demanding, we like to ensure that the new set-up we recommend will help you see events happening in your value chain in real time. That way, you can continue to optimize your supply chain—from inventory, employee shift schedules, and warehouse relationships to return and shipping efficiency, ordering regulation, and assembly line production.

The devices we recommend will be durable, reliable, cost-effective, and flexible in nearly any situation. If you need more rugged devices, we’ll take that into account, too. And you don’t have to worry if your current devices are specialized; we’ll scour all of our partners’ product offerings until we find the best device for you.

Reduce Costs, Increase Profits

After implementing our recommendations, our clients typically see higher worker productivity, lower error rates, and less down-time and label waste.

When most clients come to us, we find they last upgraded their technology years ago. Avoid their mistake: don’t let slow or non-updated software affect your bottom line. Upgrading your technology can seem expensive at first, but think about how technology fits into your business’s future. If you anticipate needing specific features or capabilities, try to incorporate a plan for these updates into your new fleet of devices.

Take this opportunity to consult us about the best options for your operations. We promise you’ll be happy to hear about how much money you can save, even with the initial investment required. Contact SK&T today, and let’s start improving your supply chain operations together!

Supply chains all over the world use RFID (radio frequency identification) to save time, decrease error rates, and keep an eye on inventory.

RFID can transform your business into a well-oiled, efficient machine. To understand how, let’s discuss what RFID is, how to apply it to your supply chain, its shortcomings, and its future.

What is RFID?

Invented in 1970, RFID uses radio technology to identify objects by assigning serial numbers to them using ‘tags.’ In the ecosystem, there is also a ‘reader’ that continually scans the environment for tags. When a tag gets close, the reader detects it because the tag has a microchip with an antenna.

A reader’s information is sent to a database that records time, location, and proximity of the tag. Using this data, you can optimize your warehouse floor plan, employee shift schedule, inventory layout, and much more. RFID is a flexible and seamless solution; its benefits cascade down to your customers and up the executive chain of your company.

RFID utilizes three different tag types: passive, active, and semi-passive. Passive tags get power from the reader, while active tags have a battery inside. Semi-passive tags use batteries but talk to the reader using the reader’s power.

Here at SK&T, we can implement all of these together throughout different parts of your supply chains. For example, active and semi-passive tags work well for high-value goods that are traveling over long ranges while passive tags work well for cheaper items, like clothing.

RFID’s Limitless Applications

Combine RFID technology with sensors, and you’ve got a whole world of possibilities. Sensors that detect temperature, humidity, movement, and more can keep you on top of potential issues before they happen.

SK&T partners with manufacturers across several industries to provide a comprehensive suite of solutions to improve your supply chains. One of our biggest partners, Zebra Technologies, is the leading supplier of RFID solutions. Their products have superb quality and last our clients through many years of business.

Some of our cross-vertical clients that benefit from our partnerships are New Belgium, Rampart Supply, and Brannan Sand and Gravel. No matter your industry, we’ve got over 20 years of experience to help drive down costs, improve efficiency, decrease label waste, and much more.

RFID’s (Few) Shortcomings

We’d be remiss to skip over RFID’s shortcomings. The good news is, with some ingenuity, it’s possible to circumvent the majority of issues.

Reader collision is one of the most common problems. Signals from other, nearby readers can disrupt a reader’s ability to work correctly. Using TDMA (time division multiple access), we can avoid this problem; TDMA cleverly shifts readers’ signals to avoid interference.

On the other hand, tags can collide too—a reader reading two tags at the same time gets confused. As a result, most companies have their tags respond to readers with millisecond delays.

Lastly, if you’ve been holding off on implementing RFID because you have an open-loop system, wait no longer. SK&T can create a customized solution that never misses a beat and keeps your customers updated from the warehouse all the way to their mailbox.

A Foundation for the Future

RFID has a big, bright future. It isn’t going anywhere; it’s embedded itself as a major technology of efficiency in supply chains. We look forward to new major RFID applications, like tags harvesting energy from readers, automating tasks and alerts, and the continued update from barcodes and labels to tags.

Our industry partners Zebra, Honeywell, and Seagull (among others) are innovators that have transformed RFID into a major utilitarian technology. And as RFID keeps advancing, devices will eventually have to be replaced and repaired. With our Trade-In program, we can ensure your technology is cutting-edge. You can get up to $650 back for each old device when you trade them in for new ones.

As one of the largest barcode system integration firms in the Rocky Mountains, SK&T is a total solution provider that can address any problem you may be facing. Reach out today and get a consultation with our engineers to boost your supply chain’s efficiency.

As mobility becomes more indispensable in warehouses and distribution centers, mobile printers bring added efficiency and productivity to multiple aspects of your supply chains. Utilizing mobile printers reduces errors and waste, saves employees time, and improves your return on investment.

A Costly Inefficiency

It’s no surprise that worker productivity decreases when employees have to leave their current task to grab labels from printers. Concentration wanes, delays pile up, and, sometimes, the wrong label can still end up on the wrong package.

Zebra Technologies, one of our partners, is one of the biggest enterprise-level scanner and data capture device manufacturers. Zebra’s study of receiving operations at a specific warehouse revealed that workers had to take nine steps from the current pallet to the printer workstation. The comparative analysis showed that employees were 42% slower to label pallets (almost 50 seconds versus 28 seconds) when using the workstation over a belt-attached mobile printer. When the warehouse found out about this productivity loss, the facility switched all of their employees over to mobile printers.

Profound Benefits for Productivity

Mobile printers can work indoors and outdoors, making them highly versatile and significantly more flexible than desktop printers. Workers can walk outside and start labeling bulky pallets and cargo containers without missing a beat.

If items are moving quickly on conveyor belts or only stopping at the warehouse for a short while before moving on, mobile printers drastically decrease time spent printing labels. On-the-spot labeling is the future, and it comes with a high accuracy rate.

Additionally, a forklift-mounted mobile printer can revolutionize warehouse workflows; errors decrease and incoming items are immediately labeled. It’s not uncommon for 100% of incoming products to be labeled without error.

Unquestionable Quality Assurance

As a result of reduced errors, QA time doesn’t have to be so nerve-wracking anymore. Inspectors use mobile printers for barcodes and shipping labels for QA’d items that indicate next steps.

In Zebra’s study of receiving operations at a warehouse, employees processed items at the put-away stage 62% faster with mobile printers, compared to walking over to the next aisle to pick up labels.

Minute Details Can Save Hours

If you’ve already set up LAN, the initial investment of implementing mobile printing is much lower. In general, eliminating cables saves facility managers thousands of dollars over the lifespan of the workstation printer.

A study on a retailer’s in-store operations found that each worker spent 2 minutes on average every day adjusting cables or making temporary fixes. This translated to a loss of 1.33 hours per week for eight workers. By switching to mobile printers, a team of eight employees gets back almost 5.5 hours per month.

Zebra’s comprehensive line of wireless mobile printers offers many features that suit any facility’s needs. Zebra’s products also come with strong security and network protocols that work with almost any network configuration.

Advantages for Every Vertical

At SK&T, our 20+ year client base spans almost every vertical. As a result, we’re experts in providing total custom solutions for each unique situation. We’ll detail specific productivity boosts in different verticals, along with our favorite pick for a mobile printer that will work in most cases.

Customer-Facing Verticals

In retail, employees can label items on-the-spot, audit prices, and create new price tags with mobile printers. Retail shops work well with any of Zebra’s QLn series. They’re a lightweight, premium solution that employees can clip to their belts or shoulder straps. The QLn series also offers heavier-duty lightweight devices that withstand 5-foot drops on concrete. A strong seal protects against dust and water.

In hospitality, hotels and restaurants can move customers through lines faster by printing receipts or labeling to-go boxes on the fly. Zebra’s iMZ line is perfect for customer-facing businesses. Additionally, the iMZ products look stylish, so they’ll fit into your brand, no matter how high-class or casual your establishment is.

At hospitals and laboratories, mobile printers can label test samples, name tags, medicine doses, and much more. There are several healthcare-specific devices in the QLn line that come equipped with disinfectant-ready plastics to reduce cross-contamination between patients.

Supply Chain Verticals

In manufacturing, mobile printers speed up quality control and inventory labeling. In warehouses, forklift-enabled mobile printers are highly useful for employee concentration and workman’s injury reduction. The QLn series is great due to its lightweight yet rugged exterior in the warehouse. But for field employees, the more rugged ZQ500 line works well for drops from higher heights. Zebra also certifies the ZQ500 line for drop, shock, and vibration.

In logistical settings using mobile printers, documentation is improved and more detailed. Distribution delays decrease, and labels can even be created when products are in transit. Our Zebra recommendations for logistics and transportation echo our recommendations for the manufacturing industry.

What Are You Waiting For?

Most companies are interested in adopting mobile printing solutions; however, according to a 2016 study, only 14% of those companies actually implemented it. Don’t delay—mobile printing can bring cost savings, reduce label waste, improve employee productivity, and move your warehouse into a more efficient workflow immediately.

And if you’re looking to upgrade, our Trade-In program can get you up to $650 back for each mobile printing device when you buy a Zebra solution.

Contact us today and keep your business on the move with mobile printers.

Many businesses utilize Microsoft devices in their supply chains and operations. But Microsoft is phasing out all of their rugged handheld devices. Starting from 2018 until 2023, Windows will end operating system upgrades, security enhancements, bug patches, and more for a variety of devices. Migrating to Android is often the best replacement for any business.

The End of Windows Embedded

The drop in service, also dubbed “end of life” or “end of support,” accounts for most rugged systems in use today, including Windows CE and other Windows Embedded Handheld devices.

Below are some of the end of life dates:

Device Official End-of-Life Date
Windows Embedded CE 6.0 04/10/2018
Windows Embedded 8.1 Handheld 06/09/2019
Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 01/14/2020
Windows Embedded Compact 7 04/13/2021
Windows Embedded Compact 2013 10/10/2023

 

Migrating to Android in advance will ensure you can fix issues, rebuild custom software, and get employees up to speed so you never miss a beat.

Android’s Advantages Over Windows

We strongly suggest migrating to Android for a multitude of reasons. Employees often already know how to use Android devices; the learning curve is practically non-existent when compared to Windows devices.

Android is also secure, robust, and versatile. It has a massive third-party developer community that supports open-source development, which means Google isn’t going to stop supporting Android anytime soon. And because it’s easy to pick up for developers, creating cross-platform solutions is easier and less expensive than other alternatives.

Migrating to Android OS also offers unparalleled business analytics integration. You can optimize your supply chains with current data and make an impact on operations immediately. And if you rely heavily on Microsoft apps, don’t worry—Microsoft will continue to support all 106 apps it owns in the Play Store.

Planning Your Migration

We’ll give you expert insight into how to choose devices. Afterward, if you’re still overwhelmed by the options, contact SK&T. We’re a total solutions provider, so we’ll set you up for success from the manufacturer, to the warehouse, and all the way to the customer.

First, take inventory of your devices that are approaching end of support. Next, figure out what unique features you’re currently using in your Windows handheld devices. Is there anything that’s custom-coded into your workflow? Do you primarily rely on two or three specific features?

Last but not least, account for new features you need or would like to have. Do your devices need barcode scanners? On-the-go printing? The ability to take customer signatures? Take note of everything.

The Top Choice: Zebra Devices

After gathering preliminary information, start looking around for new devices that could seamlessly replace the ones you’re using right now.

Here are some of the most popular devices:

  • Rugged Devices
    • Zebra TC70 and TC75
  • Ultra-Rugged Devices
    • Zebra MC9200
    • Zebra TC8000
  • Retail-grade Devices
    • Zebra TC55
    • Zebra TC70 and TC75

 

One of SK&T’s biggest industry partners is Zebra Technologies, which provides high-quality devices that are designed to endure years of heavy use. We even have a Trade-In program with Zebra, where we’ll get you up to $650 back for each device you replace with Zebra.

You can choose barcode scanning-enabled devices, portable printer devices, and much more. Zebra’s Android devices offer large screens, portrait and landscape orientation, and an easy-to-learn UI. Their products emphasize efficiency, lowering waste from printing labels, and saving money.

Set Yourself up for Migration Success

Planning your migration can be arduous, but failing to migrate before your Windows devices lose support can drive up costs exponentially. Beginning early can generate a huge return on your investment.

Focus on the future rather than the initial investment costs. With this migration, take the initiative to improve other facets of your business. Maintaining this holistic perspective will help keep your technology evergreen.

With over 20 years of experience across numerous verticals, SK&T is the expert you need for a smooth migration to Android. We provide a host of solutions across a variety of verticals, including healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and much more. Our in-house experts compare your unique situation to others in the industry to construct a seamless migration plan.

Reach out today to optimize a brighter future for your business.

 

 

 

 

Copper Mountain is a premier ski resort based in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. With more than 2,500 acres of ski terrain and 14,000 skiers entering the ski lifts each day, Copper Mountain relies heavily on quick and efficient scanning operations.

When tasked with finding a mobile device to use in their lift lines, they wanted only the best. They worked with Honeywell partner SK&T to look at various solutions for not only their lift lines, but their retail and rental locations as well. Ultimately, they selected a solution from Honeywell.

“The Honeywell solution was above all competitors in each of the aspects we were benchmarking,” said Michael Hurwitch, IT Director, Copper Mountain.

Copper Mountain deployed the Honeywell CN70a for its lift operations, scanning skier lift tickets as they enter the chair lift.

“We see about 14,000 skiers a day, and each skier enters the lift an average of 8-10 times,” said Hurwitch. “That equals 140,000 scans each day. Chairs come every six seconds and we need to ensure they are full. That is why selecting the fastest scanning solution possible was of the upmost importance.”

Todd Palmer, IT systems administrator at Copper Mountain, said the CN70a outperformed competitive test products by far, and to date they’ve seen impressive results.

“For our lift access operations, the CN70a was much lighter than previous scanners, and with each operator doing about 10,000 scans in one day, weight does have a factor,” Palmer said.

Battery life also played a huge factor in their technology upgrade.

“With our previous solution, when our battery life got down to 30% or less, the handhelds would start to drop off of our wireless network. As a result, we couldn’t complete pass verification, and were at risk for losing revenue. Because of this, we had to change our batteries twice a day if not more,” said Palmer.“Now our batteries last all day without needing to be changed.”

Palmer also noted the ruggedness of the CN70a is perfectly suited for their extreme weather conditions.

“The devices have held up extremely well in our climate,” said Palmer. “At 10,000 feet in elevation and temperatures ranging anywhere from 45 degrees Fahrenheit to -45 degrees Fahrenheit, they work efficiently every single day.”

Copper Mountain is also using the Honeywell SG20 USB wired scanners in their retail and rental locations.

“The SG20 scanners can operate at nearly any angle and can even read damaged barcodes,” said Palmer. “We are also using the CN70a for retail inventory in the off season. The imagers are impressive –we’re able to process much faster scans, with scan times 2-3x faster than previous devices.”

Overall, Copper Mountain is extremely pleased with their choice to go with Honeywell.

“To us, the Honeywell devices are clearly better than comparable devices,” said Hurwitch. “By using this solution, we’ve been able to vastly improve our overall customer experience by getting them back on the slopes faster, which is always our ultimate goal.”

This Colorado VAR has turned healthcare data capture and bar-code priting into a profit center, watching sales in that vertical alone grew 21% in 2012.

You hear it all the time: Healthcare is a go-to vertical for the channel, especially for bar-coding and media solutions providers. That statement seems sound considering industry research firms project healthcare IT spending to grow between 19% and 29% over the next few years. Hospitals and other large healthcare facilities are tackliung everything from wireless connectivity to beside patient care to cloude-based CRM….